Lenten Message from Dr. Davis (continued)

The Power of Kindness

Kindness challenge

Yet, amid this crisis, my challenge to you is to practice kindness in this Lenten season.

Our wisdom scriptures remind us that kindness is infectious and it is contagious. When kindness comes out from others, we receive it and spread that kindness to others. Kindness also has the ability, as the scripture teaches us, “to cheer up the spirit” (proverbs 12)

It is one of the fruits of the spirit and if we are to embrace the spirit of kindness, we too must be in possession of the fruit of kindness.

During this Lenten season, I challenge each of you to take on the spirit of kindness in your homes, in your churches, on your job, on the streets and everywhere you go. You will find that it carries within it the seeds of its own. You will manifest kindness in yourself and in the world. Be Kind to strangers, the person that serves you. Be kind to those who are your co-laborers and coworkers. In so doing you are being kind to the God who created them. For God says in (Jeremiah 9) “I am the Lord who exercises kindness.”

Have you ever noticed how you feel when a person is kind to you? We think kindness is a sign of weakness. However, kindness comes out of a generous spirit toward humanity. It is a virtue of humanity.

The Power of Kindness

Not only is kindness something to practice, it also has personal benefits. Kindness has biological and psychological effect on our body and minds. It is a natural anti-depressive because it causes a release of serotonin in or brain. It increases our metabolism as well as our joy. Kindness can impact both the giver and the receiver. It is mutually beneficial. And, It feels good.

Kindness produces better Physical Health:

-According to DR. David Hamilton PhD., acts of kindness are often accompanied by emotional warmth. Emotional warmth produces the hormone, oxytocin in the brain, and it protects the heart by lowering blood pressure.

Lessens Narcissism:

Studies have shown that today’s generation of teens are more narcissistic than in previous times. A lack of empathy is largely to blame but experts say that self-absorbed behavior can be curved through kindness activities

Increased Self-Esteem:

Being kind benefits the givers by not only improving well-being, but popularity. Being well liked and kind increases feelings of self-esteem and inclusion.

Less Stress:

Kindness produces feel good emotions that is a natural antidote to stress, anxiety and depression.

Ways We Can Practice Kindness

1. Help someone move.

2. Donate blood.

3. Become an organ donor.

4. Thank your parents for all they have sacrificed for you.

5. Return lost items to the owner.

6. Talk with a homeless person – perhaps offer them a dinner.

7. Be kind to someone you dislike.

8. Donate to your favorite charity.

9. Do one simple random act of kindness a day for a stranger or someone you love every day.

10. While others are gossiping about someone, say something nice about that person.

During this period of Lent, instead of judging people by their past, stand by them and help them build their future.Treat everyone with kindness, not because they are kind hearted, but because you are. I believe kindness is the best medicine that can change our community our society and yes, our world. And if we are kind to one human being, we perhaps can change one life at a time until kindness ultimately, despite of our differences, becomes an active ingredient toward transformation.

Join with me: let us put away the slings and arrows of the past and during this period of lent let us be kind to others/everyone for this is the will of God concerning us.

In the song by Diana Ross in her song “Reach out and touch” – there is a line that says, “try a little kindness and you will see, it something that comes very naturally, we change things if we start giving, and we truly can make this world a better place.”

We can make this world a better place knowing that the ultimate power of kindness derives from God’s unconditional love for us, even with our imperfections. God loved us so much that God gave us Jesus who chose kindness and love which led God to give his life so that we can model him who now lives in us through our works of love and kindness.